Marsh Mellows and Greater Crested Newts

So Sunday started with me and the boys waking up having slept in the tent in the back garden over night. I actually use the word "slept" loosely as I seem to recall being away at 1:30am, 2:30am, 4.30am and 6am. But it was all good fun and a bit of an adventure for the boys. It was nice to break up their usual morning routine and have a bit of a lazy morning in the garden, sitting around eating homemade raisin waffles in our dressing gowns.

 

 

Joshua and Brandon all snuggled up keeping warm in their sleeping bags in the tent.

I had promised Joshua we would roast some marsh mellows before going to bed last night. However we ran out of time to do this and so Joshua was quick to remind me this morning. Who am I to deny the boys such an important life skill. So out came the marsh mellows, the skewers and the little garden chimney with tea light candles.

Joshua gets his first hand on experience roasting marsh mellows.

Brandon and Joshua sharing a chair and having good fun with the burner.

Probably not the best way to roast marsh mellows, but the chimney with 3 tea lights seem to work well.

Masterchef in the making, a happy little B.

Joshua actually managed to burn and set fire to a couple of marsh mellow (he found it very funny!).

Despite all the cooking, neither of the boys actually liked the roasted marsh mellows.

Once we finally decided to get out of our pyjamas we all decided to go swimming. Brandon insisted on wearing his new swim suit which he has bought for holiday in a few weeks time. This then prompted Joshua to want to wear his as well.

Brandon with his green "Roar" dinosaur swim suit and Joshua with is "No Fear / Superman" suit.

After swimming, lunch and taking the tent down we headed over the Wick Park to fly some kites. However before launching the kite we noticed some volunteers working over by the little newt pond. So we headed over and to our surprise they were allowing the little ones to use a net and see what wildlife you could pull from the pond. Joshua and Brandon absolutely love fishing and were dead keen to get involved in this activity.

Joshua was a natural and caught about 4 newts, some water snails, tad poles and water bugs in his very first scoop of the net.

Brandon getting a little help from one of the volunteers.

Joshua with a net full of water creatures heading over to explore his catch in more detail.

Both boys on the bridge repeatedly scooping up more and more wildlife.

It is incredible that the newt pond has only been there a few years and the wildlife living there is completely natural. For the first time this year they have found Greater Crested Newts in there.

I love seeing the boys getting involved in outdoor activities.

Joshua getting his net emptied into a tray to see his catch and check any species off against the wildlife sheets on hand.

The boys were particularly fascinated with the newts.

Check out all the little bugs and newts from Joshua's first attempt with the net. He went back for about 6 or 7 goes and really filled this tray up.

Brandon did just as well and even found a boatman water bug.

Once we were finished it was time to release the wildlife back into the pond. Joshua first.

Then Brandon who was getting help empty his second tray!

We also popped into the park lodge after the pond dipping and kites. In here the boys got to do some arts and crafts. They started off my colouring in a picture of a dog, then they went on to make these rather stunning looking little butterflies. Joshua's is no more as he filled the wings with eclairs which he then decided to eat once he got home!

Brandon's butterfly creation.

So another fun day and a busy weekend over. I sense that Tina will get a nice lay-in tomorrow as once again I have worn the boys (and myself ) out over the weekend.